My Backyard Pergola

At our latest home the backyard needed a little attention.

It was a short sale so the yard was neglected, these pictures are after I cut down the grass forest that was back there.

I wanted to double the size of the patio, and provide some shade, so I had to cut out some sod, and this machine did just that, it would have taken me days using a shovel…

Formed up and ready for concrete

My daughter Ella was a tremendous help digging the holes

Music Boxes as Christmas Gifts

Handmade Musical Jewelry Boxes

I had to wait till after Christmas for this post.

I found a small woodshop, here where I was allowed to use the table saw, clamps, and mitersaw.

It started with the drawing in my notepad, and some walnut planed down to 3/8". 

 

Had to think ahead and drill out the bottom and the holes in the side for the paperclip stop bar. When checking for square, once is never enough.

A jig that I made to cut the key slots in the corners.

Dry fitting the Purple heart "keys", these will look beautiful on the finished box, and provide great contrast, they really reinforce the somewhat weak end-grain to end-grain joint.

 

About to install the music movement, you can see the stopping mechanism in the back right corner.

A couple coats of varnish later.

In my office, installing the liner of the music boxes, I did not have any pretty red or blue velvet, so I used an old uniform that had been washed with a ball point pen.

I made this little tray out of thick cardboard folders, spray adhesive and brown packing tape, it came out really well and fit like a champ.

Almost done, in this pic you can see the "keys".  Although I made one box taller than the other(had some leftover walnut) I used the same jig for cutting out the keys, so you can see the difference in spacing. I promise this was not a mistake (as I cross my fingers behind my back.)

Finished products, ready for shipping home. I hope the wife likes them!

Scott's Pergolas

One of my greatest friends, Scott, often invites the wife and I over for dinner and lounging at the pool, one day after some drinks we concocted a plan to put up some shade on the patio, and over the pool. I didn't get any pictures of the construction, mostly because I was up on top of the pergolas all day, (I did get a nice tan/slight sunburn) I was able to get some pictures after the construction was done though, when we were staining it.

Here is Scott taping off the pergola over his patio, prepping for the stain.

A pre-stain picture of the pergola over the pool. You can also see the paint sprayer, that was borrowed, thanks cuz...

A couple of completed pictures of the patio pergola.

 

A couple of completed pictures of the pool pergola.

 Unfortunately during construction a lot of sawdust and wood chips fell into the pool.

The shade planning over the pool was well thought out, the location of the pergola is perfect for the angle of the summer sun, and shades our in-water hangout area. As demonstrated in the picture below. Scott, Me, Dusty, and Dale(left to right.)